July 1, 1983
View Full PaperProstaglandins and Prostaglandin Inhibitors in Ischemic Heart Disease
Structured PICO
Does interfering with the prostaglandin system prevent platelet aggregation and thrombus formation in ischemic heart disease?
P
Population
Patients with ischemic heart disease
I
Intervention
Prostaglandins and prostaglandin inhibitors (strategies interfering with thromboxane A2 production or administration of prostacyclin)
This review emphasizes the need for rigorous clinical trials to determine the therapeutic potential and safety of prostaglandin inhibitors and prostacyclin in ischemic heart disease.
Abstract
The evidence for a role of the prostaglandin system in myocardial ischemia and its consequences is still fragmentary. We review the factors that alter the relation between thromboxane A2 and prostacyclin production such that vasoconstriction, platelet aggregation, and the tendency toward thrombus formation are increased. Strategies to prevent platelet aggregation by interfering with the production of thromboxane A2 or by stimulation or administration of prostacyclin are currently under investigation in a number of centers. The ubiquity of the prostaglandin system and our incomplete understanding make careful long-term clinical trials and observations essential if we are to be sure that the net effect of these attempts is beneficial.